Ed Mitchell Outdoors

Life in the Great Northwoods

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Life in the Great Northwoods

Man I love the Great Northwoods. The lakes, the loons, the landlocked salmon. There is a sense of freedom here – far from the madding crowd. The usual rules don’t apply. Life feels bigger. At the diner, an order of French toast is 4 buttered slices with pitcher of real maple syrup, and a mountain of local hickory smoked bacon. Coffee is an endless cup on the house. Up by the cash register, there is a stack of homemade pies crowned with whipped cream, and a tray filled with glazed donuts. Just in case you are still famished.

Now if all that good food has you as big as a moose, don’t sweat it. A store down the road has you covered. Shirts to 5XL, even for toddlers.

Posted in Environment, Fly Fishing in Freshwater | Leave a comment

Dave Got a Nice Redfish!

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Dave Got a Nice Redfish!

News from Florida. Dave – the infamous fish whisper- got a nice redfish! At first light the other day, he and his friend Pete were out hunting for reds. They set up outside a creek mouth. As you move into March, creek mouths are a good bet. Longer days and warmer temperature have baitfish, snook, and reds dropping out of the backcountry and onto the flats. And it doesn’t hurt to have a new moon stirring things up.

They encountered a fair number of 22″ reds which have been abundant this spring. Those 2 year-old fish are an excellent sign for the future. As the sun got higher, however, Dave spotted a bigger hombre – a 33″ red and fed it a fly. You got to love it!

Posted in Environment, Fly Fishing in Salt Water | Leave a comment

Weakfish – Where have they Gone?

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Weakfish – Where have they Gone?

Thought to be the most beautiful fish to visit the New England coast, weakfish are now a distant memory. Yeah, New England is at the northern end of their range. So, they never were constantly up here. Good years and bad years, up and down. Still this is nuts. They have been absent for two decades. Sure a few occasionally pop up in places like Peconic Bay, sitting deep. But don’t let that fool you. Weakfish are a ghost. Where have they gone?

At this writing, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has declared weakfish depleted since 2003. And it’s not overfishing – recreational or commercial. The biologists had concluded that weakfish are experiencing high levels of natural mortality, preventing stock recovery. But exactly why are they not making it to maturity? Predation? Habitat destruction? Pollution? Climate change? All of the above? It’s a mystery that needs to be solved.

Posted in Environment, Fly Fishing in Salt Water | Leave a comment

Good Weather for Tying Flies

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Good Weather for Tying Flies,

Been cold and windy lately. A few morning were in the single digits and a few days sported winds near 30. And yes, there has a been some snow and ice too. Good weather for strong black coffee and aged Irish Pot Still whiskey. Good weather for tying flies.

Posted in Flies and Fly Tying | Leave a comment

Where a Channel Joins a Flat

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Where a Channel Joins a Flat

When fishing a flat be sure to check out wherever the flat joins a channel, especially on the first of a rising tide. Fish that dropped off the flat during low water are apt to be sitting in the channel awaiting the tide’s return. As it does, they will find low spots in the flat and ride back up.